Ramsey hits a hat-trick as Arsenal thrash Everton

AN Aaron Ramsey hat-trick stole the spotlight from new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal thrashed Everton at the Emirates this evening.

Aubameyang, after a £56m switch from Borussia Dortmund, found the net with a deft chip in what Gunners boss Arsene Wenger described as a “convincing debut”. Laurent Koscielny also got on the scoresheet during a first-half goal blitz that evoked memories of Arsenal’s 7-0 win against the Merseysiders at Highbury in 2005.

But it was Ramsey who made sure of the points, with another new recruit, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, laying on the chances with an assured performance on the right.

Wenger praised midfielder Ramsey’s ability to take up dangerous positions in the penalty area, adding: “He always has between 10 and 15 goals, at least, in his locker. He has sometimes rushed his finishing – now he looks much calmer. He doesn’t rush it, and that’s maybe the secret to being efficient.

“In the first half we were quick, mobile and technically very sharp. And we finished very well.

“The two players (Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan) integrated very well into our game and they looked like they had played with us forever. They have very similar qualities to what our game is about – they are technically good, they are quick. Overall, it was a convincing performance.

“The quality of his (Aubameyang’s) movement was excellent, the quality of his finishing was excellent.”

Despite the midweek setback at Swansea, Arsenal came out flying, looking full of purpose as they set about unlocking Everton’s phalanx of defenders.

Ramsey made it three after 19 minutes as Everton’s defence wobbled once more. After being given time to line up a shot, and being encouraged to try his luck by the Emirates faithful, the Welshman hit a powerful deflected shot that Pickford could only help into the net.

Theo Walcott, on his first return to the Emirates, had been subdued until, after 27 minutes, his pace took him clear of Nacho Monreal. The former Gunners winger looked certain to score until Mustafi intervened with a brilliant block.

Aubameyang was then put through with only Pickford to beat, but could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper. Arsenal’s new number 14 didn’t have to wait much longer to net his first goal. After a clever through-ball from Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang lifted the ball over Pickford to make it 4-0 and effectively end the match as a contest.

Having taken off one of their many defenders, Everton came out in the second half looking more lively. All the danger came from Walcott, twice fizzing low crosses in from the right, one of which was touched on to the post by Oumar Niasse.

Just a few minutes after Walcott was taken off, his replacement, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, pulled one back for the visitors, heading in a Cuco Martina cross from the left.